Winchester and its Setting - TrustNews Mar 12
"Of all the cities in England, Winchester has managed to sit particularly comfortably in its landscape. The settlement shelters in a valley bowl where the waters of the River ltchen collect. The web of streams and channels and their inherent defences helped Alfred the Great to choose the town as his capital, but the Norman shift to London allowed Winchester to sleep on as a provincial city.
Today you can still walk from the Iron Age fort in the open downland across the medieval water meadows, through the King's Gate in the city walls and the Priory Gate to the Cathedral Close and reach the Buttercross in the centre of the city without passing a petrol station, a Tesco or a B&Q. What is more, when you look back from the Buttercross, you can still see the open hillsides that surround the city and when you approach from a distance the towers of the Cathedral, the Guildhall, the Prison and the College chapel stand out as the principal buildings. Tess of the d'Urberville's hanging tower is the first glimpse of the city from miles awayTown and countryside remain united."
Winchester's unique setting in its landscape is so important that The City of Winchester Trust and the Hampshire Gardens Trust have worked together to produce a high quality illustrated booklet "Winchester and Its Setting.
The booklet highlights the importance of the protected areas around Winchester in maintaining the valued setting of the City when viewed both from within and without. It also highlights where the character of the City is vulnerable topossible development, where no protection exists at present.
Whether protected landscape or not, the two Trusts believe that continual vigilance needs to be exercised by all involved in the future development of Winchester, be they planning applicants, planning officers or members of planning committees charged with decisions, to ensure that Winchester continues to be 'an exceedingly pleasant Town'. To that end this booklet offers awareness and guidance, on the importance of conserving and maintaining.
The booklet has been distributed widely policy and decision makers, to developers and architects. It is now available to Trust members and the wider public. To get your copy, pick one up at the Discovery Centre or phone or call in to the Heritage Centre Upper Brook Street.